NATIONAL:
1. Cyclone Asani
Why in news - The India Meterological Department (IMD) said Cyclonic Asani made landfall in Andhra Pradesh on 11th May 2022.
Key Points –
• The name has been given by Sri Lanka. It means 'wrath' in Sinhalese.
• It developed in Bay of Bengal on 10th May 2022.
• The are cyclones named by WMO/ESCAP (World Meteorological Organisation/United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific).
• WMO/ESCAP comprises Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
• The naming of cyclones started in 2000.
• The conditions favourable for the formation and intensification of tropical cyclones –
A. Large sea surface with temperature higher than 27° C.
B. Presence of the Coriolis force.
C. Small variations in the vertical wind speed.
D. A pre-existing weak low- pressure area or low-level-cyclonic circulation.
E. Upper divergence above the sea level system.
2. Sedition Law:
Why in news - The Supreme Court has put a stay on India's sedition law until it is reconsidered by the Centre.
Key Points –
• The law was originally drafted in 1837 by Thomas Macaulay.
• It was inserted in Indian Penal Code (IPC) in 1870 by an amendment introduced by Sir James Stephen.
• Today the Sedition comes under Section 124A of IPC.
• The first known instance of the application of the law was the trial of newspaper editor Jogendra Chandra Bose in 1891.
• In 1922, Gandhi was arrested on charges of sedition in Bombay for taking part in protests.
• In 1897, Tilak was charged for writing an article in Kesari. In 1908, he was tried again and was represented by Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
3. Association of Asian Election Authorities (AAEA) elections
Why in news - India has been unanimously elected as the new Chair of AAEA for 2022-2024 at its general assembly meeting held in Manila, the Philippines on 7th May 2022.
Key Points –
• New members in the Executive board include Russia, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Taiwan and the Philippines.
• The Election Commission of India’s (ECI) three-member delegation was led by Nitesh Vyas.
• Commission on Elections, Manila was the current chair of AAEA.
• AAEA was established in 1998.
• ECI served on the Executive Board of the AAEA as the Vice-Chair during 2011-13 and Chair during 2014-16.
4. Centre of Excellence for Khadi (CoEK)
Why in news - India’s first CoEK to be inaugurated in New Delhi.
Key Points –
• It will be set up at the National Institute of Fashion Technology as a hub in Delhi and spokes in Bangalore, Gandhinagar, Kolkata and Shillong.
• The Ministry of MSME has created a Centre for Experimentation, Innovation and Design for the Khadi Village and Industries Commission (KVIC).
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Al Jazeera reporter killed in Israeli raid
Why in news - Israeli forces shot Shireen Abu Akleh while she was on assignment in West Bank.
Key Points –
• West Bank is a landlocked territory in West Asia.
• The West Bank is sandwiched between Israel and Jordan.
• In Six-Day War (1967) Israel seized the Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip from Egypt, the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan and the Golan Heights from Syria.
2. Pakistan appoints ‘Minister Trade’.
Why in news – Pakistan has approved the appointment of a Trade Minister in the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.
Key Points –
• Qamar Zaman has been appointed for the role.
• The last Minister of Trade in Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi was Irfan Tarar.
3. The Bach Long (white dragon) bridge
Why in news – The world’s longest glass-bottom bridge opened in Vietnam.
Key Points –
• It spans more than 2,000 feet and stands almost 500 feet above a verdant valley.
• It is located in the Moc Chau district of Son La province.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Royal Gold Medal
Why in news - Architect Balkrishna Vithaldas Doshi has been conferred with the prestigious Royal Gold Medal 2022.
Key Points –
• It is considered the world’s highest honour for architecture.
• The president of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Simon Allford, presented the medal.
• He has been awarded both the Royal Gold Medal and the Pritzker Architecture Prize.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. Rabindranath Tagore
Why in news – PM Narendra Modi paid tribute to Rabindranath Tagore on his birth anniversary on 9th May, 2022.
Key Points –
• He was also referred to as ‘Gurudev’, ‘Kabiguru’, and ‘Biswakabi’.
• He had spoken at the World Parliament for Religions in the years 1929 and 1937.
• His notable works include Gitanjali, Ghare-Baire, Gora, Manasi, Balaka and Sonar Tori.
• He published his first poem under the pen-name ‘Bhanusimha’. He is also remembered for his song ‘Ekla Chalo Re’.
• He wrote the national anthems of India and Bangladesh.
• In 1921, he established the Vishwa-Bharati University.
• In 1913, he won the Nobel Prize in Literature for his work on ‘Gitanjali’ and was the first non-European to receive the Nobel Prize.
• In 1915, he was awarded a knighthood by the British King George V which he renounced after the Jallianwalla Bagh massacre in 1919.
• He wrote ‘Banglar Mati Banglar Jol’ (Soil of Bengal, Water of Bengal) to unite the Bengali population after the Bengal partition in 1905.
BOOKS & AUTHORS:
1. ‘Modi@20: Dreams Meet Delivery’
Why in news - A book on PM Modi’s model of governance launched in Delhi.
Key Points –
• It was launched by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu.
• It has been edited & compiled by BlueKraft Digital Foundation.
2. ‘The Struggle for Police Reforms in India: Ruler’s Police to People’s Police’
Why in news - Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu launched the book which talks about bringing police reforms in India.
Key Points –
• It is authored by a former IPS officer Prakash Singh.
• The book is published by Rupa Publications India Pvt Ltd.
APPS & PORTALS:
1. Kalam Website
Why in news - LS Speaker Om Birla launched ‘Kalam website’ to encourage vernacular literature.
Key Points –
• It is a literary initiative of the Prabha Khaitan Foundation.
• The aim of Kalam is to popularize Hindi literature.
• The tagline of Prabha Khaitan Foundation is ‘Aapne Bhasha Aapne Log’.
2. AIM-PRIME Playbook
Why in news - the AIM-PRIME (Program for Researchers in Innovation, Market Readiness, and Entrepreneurship) Playbook was launched by NITI Aayog.
Key Points –
• It is a national project of the Atal Innovation Mission.
• It is being executed by Venture Center, Pune with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
• It aims to promote science-based, deep technology ideas to market through training over a period of 12 months.
OBITUARY:
1. Pandit Sukh Ram
Why in news - Former Union Minister Pandit Sukh Ram passed away on 11th May 2022.
Key Points –
• He was Minister of Communications and Information Technology from 1993 to 1996.
• He was credited with leading a telecom revolution in the country.
2. Yuri Averbakh
Why in news - World’s oldest chess grandmaster Yuri Averbakh (Russian) passed away.
Key Points –
• He won the Moscow Championship in 1949 and earned the Grandmaster title in 1952.
• He also chaired the Chess Federation of the USSR from 1972 to 1977.
STATES/UTs:
1. Tomato flu
Why in news - Tomato flu has infected more than 80 children in Kollam district, Kerala so far who are below five years of age.
Key Points –
• It is a rare viral disease.
• Main symptoms include high fever, body ache, joint swelling, fatigue, rashes and blisters.
2. Project Honeybee
Why in news - The state aims to boost honey production, develop village-based tourism and underline the role of honeybees in the food chain.
Key Points –
• It would launch the ‘Madhache gaav’ or ‘village of honey’ project at Manghar (Mahabaleshwar) in Satara.
• The project will be implemented by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission.
• Union government’s ‘Sweet Revolution’ is related to Honey production.
• India ranks 8th and 9th in the world in honey producing and exporting countries respectively.
• According to FAO data 2020, top three honey producers are - China, Turkey and Canada.
BIHAR:
1. Gangadham to be developed in Patna
Why in news - Sabalpur, an island between Patna and Sonpur, will be developed as Ganga Dham.
Key Points –
• A 101-meter-high statue of ‘Mother Ganga’ will be installed in Sabalpur.
• Ganga River Aquarium, Ganga Museum and Ganga Religion Convention Center will be built to attract every tourist.
• The area will be 40 acres in the first phase. In the second phase, it will increase to 108 acres.
2. Increase in DA for state employees
Why in news – The Dearness Allowance has been increased by 7%. Now they will be given 203% DA of the salary.
Key Points –
• The increased amount of DA will be paid as arrears from 1st Jan 2022.
• All those employees will be covered who are getting the benefit of the 6th Central Pay Scale.
• Prior to this, DA was 196%.
3. Fortified rice to beat malnutrition
Why in news – State government to give nutritious rice (fortified rice) to the people under the Public Distribution System (PDS).
Key Points –
• 1,72,00,000 families (ration card holders) will get benefitted from the scheme i.e., more than eight crore people will get this facility.
• Distribution will start from June 2022 through 56000 PDS shops in the state.
• 1096 rice mills are producing fortified rice in the state. Till date 10 lakh tonnes of fortified rice has been prepared.
• It costs 15 paise per kg to fortify rice.
• Fortification means addition of key vitamins and minerals such as iron, iodine, zinc, Vitamin A & D to staple foods such as rice, milk and salt.
4. Boat Dispensary
Why in news – Amidst the fear of floods, the Health Department has instructed districts to arrange boats so that boat dispensaries can be built.
Key Points –
• To ensure that people get service of doctors and medicines at their doorstep.
• Special emphasis to be paid on reducing the death due to snake bite.
• Instructions have also been given to build maternity hut.
5.Bihar Boxing Championship
Why in news – The championship concluded on 11th May 2022 at Patliputra Sports complex, Patna.
Key Points –
• Winner – Patna
• Runner up – Bhagalpur
• Nayan and Saksham won gold medal.
• Vikash of Bhagalpur and Muskan of Patna won the best boxer award.
6. Mushroom Production in Bihar
Why in news – Bihar tops in mushroom production in the country.
Key Points –
• In FY 2021-22, with 28000 tonnes of mushroom it contributes to 10.82% in the total production of the country.
• In FY 2020-21, Bihar was the third largest producer with 21 thousand 325 tonnes.
• Nalanda, Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur, Gaya and Saran are among the major mushroom producing districts.
• The Horticulture department had included mushroom in the menu of MDM in the year 2014.
• The women of Nalanda were trained in mushroom production in Himachal Pradesh.
• Madhu Patel established Bihar's first mushroom spawn lab in Rajgir.
• Other top producers are- Maharashtra, Odisha, Haryana.
POINTERS:
• Which companies have signed purchase agreements for upcoming ethanol plants - Oil marketing companies.
• Which bank has launched 'Express Car Loan' - HDFC Bank.
• Which railways division has introduced 'baby berth' on trial basis in some trains- Northern Railway.
• Which will become the first "Honey Village"- Manghar village, Maharashtra.
• Where has the Indian Army’s first Green Solar Energy Harnessing Plant been set up – in Sikkim.
• According to the recent report, which state has the highest number of elderly people – Rajasthan.
• In which city the annual summit of India Global Forum has been held – Bengaluru.
• Which country has hosted the World Sustainable Development Summit 2022 – India.
• Which ministry has organized the all India program ‘Jharokha’ – Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Textiles.
• Which country will host the 2022 Commonwealth Games – Birmingham, England